Google Chrome Gets Virtual Reality Support

[Guest]

Chrome will now let people experience virtual reality on their smartphones or PCs, no extra hardware or software required, even if Google recommends its Daydream platform for the best experience.

Google Chrome Gets Virtual Reality Support : Read more

 

[bit_user]

Why is VR even a thing right now?

These are actually quite valid questions, which come up from time to time. Rather than answer them here, I'm going to suggest the VR Forum add a FAQ sticky post.

For now, I'll just say that it sounds like you haven't tried it. It seems to be the case that seeing is believing, with VR. If there's some way you can try it, that's probably the best way to answer your questions about the difference between screen-based gaming and using a HMD.

Also, there are lower-cost HMDs on the way. But room-scale adds complexity, equipment, and therefore cost. Nobody is yet making (much) money from VR, except maybe the GPU vendors.

 

[bit_user]

Anyway, the main thing I wanted to say was that I'm disappointed the article wasn't announcing PC VR HMD support, in Chrome. Yeah, it's great that I can see these experiences in a window, but I'd really like a way to experience Daydream (or whatever standard these experiences use) on my PC VR system.

 

[therealduckofdeath]

Why is VR a thing compared to an "immersive" curved ultrawide display? With VR you get something completely different. You get a real 3 dimensional experience. Like bit_user said. If you can't imagine what that would be like, in comparison with a large monitor, you should really find a place where you can try it out.

 

[Damon_10]

Please, just try a room scale VR experience and see if you still feel the same. There are no words that make you feel what the difference is.

 

[bit_user]

Please, just try a room scale VR experience and see if you still feel the same. There are no words that make you feel what the difference is.

LOL. Yeah, its so amazing to be able to walk around and look at things. I've never done that before.

VR is really about trying to fool your brain into thinking you're inside of a virtual world. Maybe you're not interested in feeling any more immersion than you can already get with a screen. That's fine, but some of us (including the editors of this site) are very interested in VR and AR.

With that said, it's starting to sound a bit like you're here with an anti-VR agenda. If that's the case, I'd suggest staying out of the comments on VR news items and other VR-related threads. Otherwise, please don't attack answers you don't like. If something isn't clear to you, then ask more questions but don't lash out at those who take the time to answer you.

 

[fireaza]

Why is VR even a thing right now? Every time I play a video game I'm doing VR. I don't understand why you have to wear a stupid headset to do this? I mean I have a 4k 55" television and a 4k monitor, I guess I don't see what the advantage is to wearing a headset when I can just use a controller to do all the same things? They call it immersive but when I sit at desk with a 27" 4k monitor I feel pretty immersed in the game. It's also way overpriced. This is basically a phone screen and some motion sensors, it should cost $99 tops. There's nothing this thing does that is impressive to me in the slightest.

Wow, seriously? Are you seriously saying that looking at a flat, 2D screen is just as immersive as a technology that both surrounds your entire field of view and allows you to look around in 360 degrees?

Aside from it being REALLY obvious you've never tried VR, everything you're saying makes it sound like you know that you can't afford VR, so you don't want it to exist and never wanted it anyway. Sour grapes much?

 

[bit_user]

everything you're saying makes it sound like you know that you can't afford VR, so you don't want it to exist and never wanted it anyway. Sour grapes much?

Some people just don't like the idea of having to wear a HMD.

I certainly don't want to force VR on anyone. But, there's no risk of that happening, anytime soon.

For the time being, let's not rain on anyone's parade.